THE burning question ahead of the big clash next Saturday is: Does Giovanni Trapattoni plan to put his money where his mouth is?

THE burning question ahead of the big clash next Saturday is: Does Giovanni Trapattoni plan to put his money where his mouth is?

Because if he's willing to have a flutter on the outcome of his side's Group Nine showdown with Wales, he'll doubtless be staking his Armani shirt, the keys to his Ferarri and his (presumably) stunning villa, besides any lose change stuck behind the cushions of his designer leather sofas.

If the Italian media is to be believed - and there's no reason to doubt the validity of their reports this week - Trap, as he is famously known, is not just confident.

He's utterly dismissive.

"We shall beat Wales in Milan and we will finish ahead of them in the qualifying section," he says.

Pick the bones out of that, boys.

"We are people who are kissed by the sun - some people are jealous of how we play the beautiful game."

Jealous, eh?

"My team play with the determination of the Germans, but with the attacking style of Brazil - I feel we are even a little faster than them."

Do you get the feeling old Giovanni thinks his lads are a bit special?

In fairness, Trap has had plenty to shout about of late, with the Azzurri team that he has pulled, rather less than phoenix-like, from the ashes of a truly excruciating exit at the last World Cup now looking pretty damn hot.

Wales stunned them in Cardiff last October.

Since then they've had six victories to crow about, including the friendly beating of Germany.

German coach Rudi Voller was suitably impressed, referring to Italy as "fantastic".

It's all enough to prompt Trap to wax lyrical once more and draw comparisons between his strikeforce and three men who know a thing or two about waxing lyrical.

"In Christian Vieri, Francesco Totti, and Alessandro Del Piero I possess the three tenors - a magical, marvellous triangle who are all so exciting.

"I have no doubt in my mind this team is the most talented I have ever had the pleasure of being in charge of.

"We are very strong, and I am confident for Milan."

It's all stirring stuff. Some might say a curious line in reverse psychology; after all, football managers are known for talking their prospects down, as opposed to trumpeting them from the rooftops.

But it might be worth recalling that the same "holy trinity" of raging bull Vieri, stylish Totti and tricky Del Piero were the fulcrum of Italy's World Cup 2002 bid, which foundered against hosts and surprise package South Korea.

Their collective threat may yet be a moot point, anyway.

Totti has been struggling to overcome a hip injury sustained in a friendly match against Spanish outfit Real Betis on Monday.

The Roma man would, no doubt, be missed.

And in the event, unlikely as it seems, of Trap running out of reasons why his team are the greatest in the universe, he could always point to history.

Wales have beaten Italy twice since the two nations first went head-to-head in 1965.

The Azzurri have six notches on their gunbelt against the Welsh.

But should Trap wish to refer us to the history books, little old Wales could counter by looking a little further into the mists of time.

The seventh century BC, to be precise. It's a heck of a long time ago, but it's a time when Celtic tribes owned what is today Milan.

Let's hope that snippet of history, however ancient, gives us a repeat performance.